Twenty-third Ordinary

Luke 14: 25 – 28

Jesus said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and estimate the cost, to see whether you have enough to complete it?”

Anyone who’s stood in front of a class on a hot Friday afternoon in Term 4 knows it. We face not just lesson plans, reports, and meetings – but the deeper, quieter work of shaping lives, nurturing faith, and modelling the love of Christ in ways that young hearts can see and believe.

Jesus isn’t sugar-coating discipleship. He speaks plainly: there is a cost. If we’re serious about following him, it will take focus, commitment, and the courage to put his mission above our own comfort.

For educators in Catholic schools, that’s a direct challenge.

Counting the cost in teaching isn’t about tallying hours or calculating pay rates. It’s about asking:

• Am I prepared to put love before convenience?
• Am I willing to stand for truth and justice even when it’s unpopular?
• Am I committed to seeing each student as a child of God, even on the days when patience runs thin?

Every school year asks us to recommit – not just to the curriculum, but to the Gospel values we embody. Some days, the cost might be energy. Other days, it’s letting go of ego, control, or the easy option.

In a society where faith can easily be sidelined, Catholic educators are living witnesses to the radical love of Christ. Every time you listen deeply to a struggling student, challenge a harmful attitude, or build a culture or respect in your classroom, you’re carrying your cross in the modern world.

It’s tempting to want quick wins. But Jesus’ words remind us: discipleship is about the long game. Building faith in our students – and in ourselves – is a tower worth constructing, brick by brick.

If we truly “count the cost” and still step forward, we’re saying: Yes, Lord, I will teach in Your name – even when it’s hard. And here’s the good news: you’re not carrying that cross alone. You walk with colleagues, families, the Church – and with Christ himself.

This week, take time to:

• Reflect on why you teach in a Catholic school.
• Identify one way you can bring Gospel courage into your practice.
• Encourage a colleague who might be feeling the weight of the work.

Teaching the Gospel is never easy. But it’s always worth it. Let’s build the tower together – strong in faith, grounded in love, and unafraid of the cost.